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Friday, 28 November 2014

Today marks the official start of the Christmas shopping period and many shops have amazing deals to coax us all in. Boots is one of them and if you shop right you can save yourself a pretty penny and have Christmas all wrapped up by the end of the day. Here's my top picks of the Boots Black Friday beauty deals....

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray Infused with 100% natural essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Chamomile, this works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is a great aid to anyone wanting a good nights sleep WAS £30.00 NOW £15.00

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

I feel quite ashamed of myself for not dedicating a post to my beloved Clinique Bottom Lash mascara. I've spoken about it a lot on my blog as a product I would forever repurchase, and even found a good dupe for it, but I never gave it a stand alone post. Until now that is..

Not everyone will suffer from panda eyes on a day to day basis, but I'm sure you all have done at some point in your life. I am someone that has this awful affliction on a daily basis and it's something that I find grates on me. Most mascaras will tend to gravitate to my under eye area and set up camp within a few hours of applying and this is made even worse in hot and humid conditions. I could try and rectify the problem with concealer and such but then I run the risk of 'cake face' if I'm not careful and to be honest, I just don't have time for that s*it!

In comes my holy grail and panda eye defeater Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. The wand is tiny and something that you would find fitting in an episode of the Borrowers instead of your make up bag, but it's the mini wand that allows me to strategically apply the mascara to just my lashes and not the rest of the skin (or face) around them. The formula is second to none as well. Completely smudge and flake proof and a bit of a bugger to remove, but I forgive it for that. It's the lasting power of this little gem that makes it fantastic at coating and defining each lash perfectly.
My only gripe with it would be that it does tend to dry up quite quickly which is possibly the reason I have about 5 floating around in my makeup stash ( the hoarder in me won't let me throw them away). When it dries up it dries up good and proper which is a shame but then I suppose it is a tiny tube so it's not going to last as long as traditional mascaras is it?
Anyway with that aside. I love this little mascara marvel and if you suffer with the dreaded panda eyes, I think you will too.

Monday, 24 November 2014

You would have seen from my recent post that Bourjois have released some new products into their winter collection. Two new shades of nail polish are some of them, which will fit nicely into most peoples nail wardrobe this season.

'Grey to meet you'* - a slate grey which is a change up from your conventional reds and plums that you tend to see this time of year. The colour is almost opaque in one coat, but does look better with two.

'Glitterizer'* is your traditional touch of sparkle that you're used to seeing around the festive seasons, and the silver leaf pattern compliments the other shade beautifully. If you're wearing this alone like I have you do need at least 4 coats to so the glitter is distributed evenly.

The formula of this polishes are second to none. A gel enriched with silicon that moulds perfectly around the nails, and creates a high shine glossy finish. The fan effect brush allows to you coat each nail with ease, so easy in fact the only things you need to create perfectly manicured nails are, two hands and some nails. Job done.

You can buy these along with other shades for £5.99 at Boots and other Bourjois stockists.

What colours will you be adorning your nails with this winter and party season?

Friday, 21 November 2014

A new matte lipstick has hit the town from Rimmel. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Apocalips as I found them to be quite sticky and the darker/brighter shades tended to migrate around my month and I would end up looking like the Joker (not a good look, unless that's what you're going for!).
But I am a big fan of matte lipsticks, so when I saw they had bought out a matte version - Provocalips, I was all over them like a rash and sort them out in my local Boots. There are a few shades to choose from but I decided to step out of my comport zone and go for 'Play with Fire' - a dark vampy maroon red shade that I think is perfect for Autumn/Winter.

Lip swatches bottom middle and right - with and without gloss over the top.

The formula and application is very different from the original Apocalips. This is a two part process where you first apply the "stain" and then go over the top with the sealant. The coloured stain is much like a liquid lipstick where it's very pigmented and delivers instant colour, although it does leave a sticky, tacky feeling behind. This is soon removed after the application of the second phase. The clear top coat is a clear gloss that adds a bit of shine and soon gets rid of the tacky feeling left behind by the first step.

The wear time of these is said to be 16 hours and like most matte lipsticks it does last a very long time, even through eating and drinking. But after a while it does tend to fade and not look as good, leaving a halo of colour around the lips. I found I could get at least 6-8 hours out of it before I felt it needed to be removed and had very little transfer when drinking - so no lipsticks marks left behind after this then! I tend to judge the longevity of a lipstick by how well it looks on the lips. There's no denying that after 8 hours it was still on my lips, but it didn't look as good, and if I was wearing any other lip product this would be the time when I would re-apply.

I also found them to be less drying than other matte formulas and didn't get the dreaded flaky lip look - obviously this is all down to the condition of your lips. Mine aren't particularly dry but if you do suffer with dry lips you may see a different result.

I have read that some have found these a pain to remove, an experience I haven't encountered myself. I just use a eye and lip makeup remover, which removed every last trace of it with ease. Again if your lips aren't in the best condition you may find it sticks to dry patches making it more difficult to remove, but I didn't find this.

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Envy Dual Fix 12 is a professional treatment for all hair types said to restore damaged hair, adding thickness and reviving the colour.
The brand itself was designed by a hairdresser who one day found out one of he's best selling treatments was to be discontinued. As a hairdresser myself I know exactly how this feels. But rather than sourcing he's products from somewhere else to find a replacement he decided to create he's own line of product that he as a hairdresser would use. And also products that deliver results that the clients can continue to use at home. So Envy was born.

Envy Dual Fix 12 is said to..

Amazing shine

Helps repair damage

Weightless silk effect

Easier de-tangling

Helps rehydrate hair

Improves styling and blow dry results

Thicker, fuller feel

Helps reduce frizz

Rejuvenates tired colour

Hair feels stronger

The mousse treatment can be used in two ways. The first as an intensive treatment where the product is applied firstly to dry unwashed hair and then dried in with a hair dryer. Once dry you then wash and condition as normal ( they recommend two shampoos). The results of this are that of an intense conditioning treatment that leaves the hair feeling soft, smooth and manageable. I was impressed at how well it performed after just one use, as a dry haired gal my hair never really feels in tip top condition but this gave it life and shine that wasn't there before. Each hair strand felt nourished and made the tedious task of combing a pleasant painless experience and also left the fresh, fruity grapefruit scent in my hair even after rinsing.

After the initial intense treatment you can use it weekly to maintain and further repair the hair. The weekly process is a lot easier. You apply it in between the shampoo and condition stage and leave it for just a minute before rinsing. This process sees the same results along the path as the intense version. My hair felt silky soft, conditioned and in a nut shell, a hell of a lot better than it was before!

Monday, 17 November 2014

For all those candle fanatics out there (me included), Yankee Candle have bought back their festive advent calendar to for fill all your candle needs in the run up to Christmas.
This year there are two calendars to choose from 'Christmas Past' and 'Christmas Present'.
The one I'm talking about today is 'Christmas Present'*. A hexagonal shaped box which encases 25 tea lights (each with a burn time of 4-6 hours), all scented to bring you festive cheer and good tidings. There are 6 different scents hidden behind each door for you to light on the eves running up to Christmas, and on the 24th you have the added bonus of two captivating fragrances to choose from. One to light on Christmas eve and the other to burn when Santa has been on Christmas day!

Scents include Angel Wings, Icicles, Snowflake Cookie, Cranberry Ice, Christmas Cookie and Christmas Garland. All of which you must agree capture the essence of the festive season and will bring any humbug out of their shell and singing along to Christmas carols in no time.

The calendar is also a good way of trying out Yankee Candles if you haven't already done so and gives you an idea of how well the fare against other candles. Buying them like this also means you're getting a bargain as each tea light works out as £1.14p each!

You can find this and other festive candles on the Yankee Candle website. But hurry, I think this is going to be a sell out and prove to be just as popular as last years!

Friday, 14 November 2014

The NEW Mega Liner from Bourjois is one of the latest releases in their winter collection. The colour is said to as "black as calligraphy ink" and with up to 24 hours wear!

Now don't ask me how black can be made even blacker because I personally have no idea and is something new to me, but the colour payoff is that of very pigmented and definitely black (as oppose to grey/black or a wishy washy version of black) so I guess you could say it's "ultra black". I stand corrected.

The formula and claim of 24 hours wear is again something I was a little dubious of. I can't tell you if it lasts that long as I'm generally not one to wear makeup for 24 hours, I tend to you know wash before I go to bed. don't judge.

That being said the wear time of this is good, fantastic in fact. After 9 hours of work I still had my liner and cat flicks firmly in place without a smudge or smear in slight. You'll be glad to know as well that you don't need a hacksaw or industrial strength cleaner to remover it, just an oil based cleanser and you're good to go.

As far as the formula and pigmentation go I'm a big fan. The applicator I think is going to be a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. The nib is similar to the tip you find on a highlighter pen and if like me you used to a fine tipped brush to apply your liner you might find it a struggle to get to grips with.

There's no denying I managed to create a flick with ease, the only problem I had was perfecting the smooth straight line above my lashes. If you're eyeliner tool of choice is that of a angled brush you'll probably have no issue with this as you'll be used to using this shape. I found it a little tricky but loved the ease of creating the flick and the lasting power. I think I need a little more practise with application but as far as everything else is concerned I'm hooked!

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

They say you should never judge a book by it's cover and I'm afraid I did this when I first saw these two products. On first inspection you would have to be blind not to see the resemblance between these and the Bourjois Healthy Balance range. The packaging is almost identical, so in my mind I had this summed up to be a dupe or the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation -which is a dupe in its self for other high end foundations with it's a dewy light/medium coverage and skin like texture.

So is this a dupe? No.

This foundation had me shocked from the first time I used it. Think of MAC's Face and Body foundation but with more coverage and in a semi matte finish and you have this. All teamed up with pump and at an affordable price. In fact I would go as far as saying this is probably best compared to the new YSL Ink fusion foundation where texture and finish are concerned.

I'm an oily gal and dewy foundations are not really my thing. I have my own dewiness going on and I don't need any more thank you. That's not to say I don't partake in a healthy glow, because sometimes I do, but on a day to day basis I like to matte everything out and add my own highlight just where I want it.

The texture of this is very runny, much like the MAC's Face & Body, and when buffed in develops into a much thicker consistency (again much like Face & Body). When blended in the foundation dries down almost instantly in to a semi matte satin finish.

As you can see from the photo's the foundation does a great job at covering any imperfections and evening out my skin tone to deliver a blend-able medium coverage in a velvety matte finish. This is perfect for anyone with oil/combination skin, but dryer skin typed may want to pair it with a hydrating illuminating primer before hand. I haven't really got any dry patches on my face but I think due to the finish it may have a tendency to stick and enhance them.

The concealer is non drying with a creamy blend-able texture that covers minor imperfections. Great for under the eyes and on any blemishes you may have. The concealer is good, not the best in the whole world, but a good everyday one that won't break the bank, much like the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer but maybe a bit more hydrating.

The star of the show definitely is the foundation. It's perfection in a bottle for oily skinned gals like me.

Have you tried the New Super Boost Foundation yet? What are your thoughts on it?

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Christmas is nearly here, and to start off the festivities I'm giving one lucky person the chance of winning an early Christmas present.
If you've followed my blog for a while you will know how much I love Jo Malone, an obsession that was bought on by product enabler Stacey from Expat Makeup Addict.
Her fragrances are absolutely beautiful and if you've never tried any before you really must, or enter my giveaway and try them for yourself!
So to treat one lucky reader I'm giving away this Jo Malone Christmas Cracker filled with a mini perfume (Lime, Basil and Mandarin), body lotion (Nectarine Blossom and Honey), and body wash (Blackberry and Bay). I think this is a super cute gift and a great pressie for any Jo Malone fan.

To bag yourself one of these all you have to do is enter through the Rafflecopter below. Due to the nature of the prize this giveaway is open to UK residents only (sorry!)

Monday, 10 November 2014

If you haven't heard of Richard Ward you're missing out big time. He's a hairdresser well known for he's extensive celebrity clientele and has titillated the locks of many a A list star like, Liz Hurley, Kim Cattrall, Lily Allen and even royalty with Kate Middleton being on he's books. So it's no surprise that he has bought out he's own hair care line to be used in he's award winning salons and now available on the high street for us to use.

The products I have here to try out come from the Chelsea Collection, the Keratin Sleek Shampoo and Keratin Sleek Conditioner. Both items contain Keratin, a natural protein found in hair (and nails) which helps to strengthen the hair by re-building broken fibres. It also contains Strigosa Seed and Lycee which adds hydration and acts as a smoothing agent to make hair appear more sleek and frizz free. The shampoo and conditioner are both very nice to use and have a pleasant scent. the shampoo cleanses the hair removing build up and dirt with ease without stripping or drying it out. The conditioner feels like a concentrated milk that doesn't weigh my fine hair down. Some "smoothing" conditioners tend to coat the hair to reveal a more sleek appearance and this can make hair greasy and limp, but this does not.

What makes these all the better is with the addition of a colour lock and heat protective formula which means you don't have to apply more products to your hair in order to protect it and increase the life of the colour. For someone like me with fine hair that tends to not bode well with lots of products being used on it this is something that interest me.

The Anti-Ageing Argan Elixir also contain the colour and heat protecting properties as well as the obvious Argan Oil - which seems to be the hero product of the moment right now. And there's no denying the magical wonders that is does, I for one have been Argan products for a few years and love everything about them. This is no different in the fact that the Argan helps smooth and restore dry damaged hair giving it a more sleek and healthy appearance. I mentioned my love for this in my "fake healthy hair" post as it's nourishing without being overly oily, and is great when used on thick course hair after styling to smooth and tame frizz (finer hair types may want to use it sparingly on dry hair). I use this on wet hair after every wash, concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends, and then just putting what's ever left on my hand through the top section and roots.

The list if what this tiny marvel can do is impressive...

﻿

Anti Fizz Technology

Weather Proofing mineral extracts

De-Tangling

Reduces damage

Heat and UV protection

Colour Lock formula.

All Richard Ward hair care products can be picked up in your local Waitrose, containing a variety of formula's to treat different hair types and concerns.

Friday, 7 November 2014

It's a bit of a mixed bag this month. I have some old favourites and some new additions and all have been firmly on top of my make up and skin care stash.

First off is the YSL Fusion Ink Foundation. This has to be the most loved and well used product out of the whole bunch and has quickly become one of my all time favourite foundations.

It's super light weight on the skin and blends in seamlessly without any effort at all and is a god send to anyone with oily/combination skin as it leaves a matte velvet finish, which controls oil production beautifully. You can read my full review here.

DHC Pore Cleansing Oil*. If you're a fan of the original Cleansing Oil then I think you'll love this one just as much. The oil is shall we say, less oily (if that's even possible) than its predecessor and does a fantastic job at removing make up and dirt from skin, leaving it feeling cleansed and hydrated without leaving a greasy residue behind. The process of removing make up is made all the more pleasurable with the added bonus of it smelling rather similar to Terrys Chocolate Orange! Yum.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. I've been a bit poorly these last 2 weeks and as a result my lips and nose have been incredibly dry. This marvel has softened the skin and moisturised it making my lips soft and less flaky than before. It's also one of the only lip treatments that seems to last on my lips for a good amount of time. Some tend to wear off really quickly but this hangs around throughout drinking and eating.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara has made its way back into my life after a short sabbatical and I've fallen back in love with it all over again. It makes light work of coating my bottom lashes without transferring onto my skin and lasts all day without smudging or flaking.

I love it and I'm sorry I neglected it (insert weeping emoji).

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. As the nights have drawn in and the temperature has dipped my all time favourite winter scent has been dusted off and put back into use. This is a absolutely stunning fragrance which is warm, comforting, spicy and everything I love in a perfume this time of year. If you haven't smelt it I urge you to sniff it out next time you're at a Jo Malone counter.

Ardell Demi Wispies. I haven't had my eye lash extensions of a good 5 weeks now and these lashes have been my go to lash of choice. The band in super fine and easily concealed making them look more realistic. The fine wispy style is perfect for day time wear without making me look like daisy the cow and gives a very natural flutter of lashes to the eye.

Yankee Candle Harvest*. Much like my perfume I like to change up my home fragrance and this has been in favour these last few weeks. The scent is warming, with a sweet and spicy kinda vibe which has Autumn and Winter written all over it. This makes my house much more comforting and homely - just like a warm fluffy blanket, which lets face it what we all crave this time of year.

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

To say I'm a foundation junkie (or foundation whore if we want to be frank) is an understatement. I love a good foundation and even the ones I'm not that keen on can still be found in my stash for "just in case".

My latest foundation purchase ( because you know I needed it as the other 432 weren't good enough) was the YSL Fusion Ink Foundation. A foundation with NASA inspired technology - yes its compounds and formula come from America's leading space scientists, crazy I know! But don't worry I'm not going go into too much detail or bore you with all the technical talk but it's something to do with the Lipophilic actives (I have no idea what they are :/). Which are found in stellar dust particles in outer space, these allow it to absorb 4 times as much sebum (oil) than other foundations, resulting in a matte finish for longer. Quite frankly I don't understand it and the only thing I'm interested in is if it's any good or not!

Firstly, the Packaging = gorgeous and made of glass, so not the most travel friendly.

Secondly, the Application = a sort of spatula type thing which is actually very easy to use

Thirdly, the Formula = bloody brilliant

This has a super light weight formula that mirrors water in its consistency as oppose to regular cream foundations. It blends seamlessly into skin with hardly any effort at all and leaves the most beautiful finish. A velvety powdery finish that looks natural and feels smooth to the touch, covering imperfections without caking and just leaving the skin looking 100 times better than what it was.

As I'm oily this foundation is a dream come true. The finish allows me to use this without the need for powdering and the long wearing formula means it lasts at least 8 hours before its starts to show signs of wear - and even then it still look great! Dryer skin types I feel won't benefit as much and may find the foundation enhances dry patches. But if you're on the oily/combination spectrum, you'll love it! Well I do anyway.

I would say the coverage is a good medium and can be built up or sheered down depending on the amount used. A light application will even out the skin and still give it that matte velvet finish and a heavy application will blur out imperfections without looking heavy, and the matte finish means if stays put and looks great all day

If it's not obvious so far I absolutely love this stuff and it has quickly become one of my all time favourite foundations. On price it's not the cheapest (£30.50) but I think it's worth every penny and I predict it's going to be a long time before a foundation floats my boat like this one has! Bold statement I know, but I'm sticking to it.

Have you tried the Fusion Ink Foundation? What are your thoughts on it?

Monday, 3 November 2014

If you read my Battle of the Advent Calendars post you'll be aware of the vast festive offerings available this year. There are no less than 15 beauty advent calendars all ready to hit the market, with some already available, like this one from W7. Some are priced well out of my league with the most expensive being a whopping £250.00! I'm sure I'm not the only one giving that a miss!

So if you haven't got £250.00 for a advent calendar but still want some beauty treats this one will be of great interest to you. It's the cheapest out of the bunch where make up is concerned and no less as exciting.

The contents is a make up lovers dream with Lipstick, Eye shadow, Nail Polish and even Mascara, all packaged in a fold out traditional advent style where behind every door is a festive treat waiting for you.

If you would like a sneak peek stay tuned, if not - look away now and forever hold your peace. Amen..